Waymo tests new autonomous vans

Zoom in: Axios Pittsburgh spotted a Waymo van in Squirrel Hill last weekend.

• The van is a Waymo Ojai, according to company spokesperson Ethan Teicher.
• The vans launched in May and feature more spacious interiors, faster charging capabilities and larger battery capacities than other Waymo vehicles, Teicher said.

Zoom out: Teicher wouldn't specify where Waymo is testing in the region, but reports have indicated the vehicles have been spotted in the city, the South Hills, and Monroeville.

State of play: Waymo was cleared in March to test autonomously with a licensed specialist behind the wheel, but has still been testing with manual drivers.

Between the lines: Waymo vehicles were involved in 68% fewer "police-reportable crashes" per mile traveled than human drivers in four cities where the company operates, according to new research from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

The bottom line: Waymo operates in 10 U.S. cities and is starting soon in four more (Denver, Las Vegas, San Diego and Tampa, Fla.). Pittsburgh is part of an eventual expansion to six additional cities.